Rajya Sabha MP Sanajaoba calls for reclamation of Kabaw Valley to Manipur

Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba on March 10 urged the central government to reclaim the historically significant Kabaw Valley, now part of Myanmar, or ensure the continuation of compensation payments as stipulated under the Treaty of Yandaboo (1826) and the Kabaw Valley Agreement (1834). He raised the matter during Zero Hour in the Upper House today.

Sanajaoba asserted that Kabaw Valley, spanning 22,210 sq. km, was an integral part of Manipur and remained under its rule since 1450. He alleged that India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, "gifted" the valley to Burma (now Myanmar) without consulting Manipur’s state government during a meeting with Burmese Prime Minister U Nu on March 3, 1953. He described the move as "the darkest day in Manipur’s history."

Highlighting the historical agreements, he noted that as per the 1834 Kabaw Valley Agreement, Burma was obligated to pay a monthly compensation of Sicca 500 to the then King of Manipur, Maharaj Gambhir Singh. These payments continued even after Manipur’s merger into the Indian Union in 1949. However, Myanmar reportedly ceased payments in 1953, following Nehru’s decision to transfer the valley.

Calling the move a “historic blunder,” Sanajaoba asserted that the people of Manipur "will never forgive" Nehru and the Congress Party for this act. He urged the House to intervene and demand either the repatriation of Kabaw Valley or the resumption of compensation payments by Myanmar.